Riccia brasiliensis Schiffn.

  • Authority

    Bischler, Hélène, et al. 2005. Marchantiidae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 97: 1--262. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Ricciaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Riccia brasiliensis Schiffn.

  • Type

    Type. Brazil. Paraná: River Paranapanema, Salto Grande, 500 m, Schiffner 2395 (holotype, FH).

  • Description

    Species Description - Thalli in partial rosettes, or in gregarious mats, or 2-3 lobes grouped; lobes 2-3 times forked, 3-7 mm long, 0.6-0.9 mm wide, rounded, or obtuse, or emarginate apically, sometimes broadened behind apex; dorsal side light bluish green, margins obtuse, inflexed; flanks pink-violet; ventral side pale green. Median groove indistinct. Cilia few, hyaline, narrowly triangular, in upper part of flanks from top to bottom of lobes, more numerous apically, some short, 25-75 µm long, smooth, obtuse or rounded apically, others 80-240 µm long, 20-30 µm wide, subacute or obtuse apically, thin-walled, granulose in the upper 2/3. Ventral scales short, inserted below the cilia, pink-violet, cells 36-55 × 24-30 µm. Cross section of lobes 0.40.5 mm high, 2-3 times as wide as high; dorsal edge slightly ascending and rounded laterally; flanks rounded, erect; ventral edge convex. Monoecious. Sporangia bulging. Spores 84-108 µm diam., light red-brown; wing irregular, narrow, 2.5-3 µm wide, wider near the pores where it reaches 5-7 µm, granulose, or wing nearly absent; distal face with 7-10 (-11) areoles across diam., limited by conspicuous ridges with large tubercles, the areoles 8-10(-12) µm diam.; proximal face with smaller areoles but with similar ridges and tubercles, triradiate scar weak.

  • Discussion

    Riccia brasiliensis is related to R. lindmanii but can be distinguished from the latter species by the presence of smooth as well as granulose cilia, and by the spores <108 µm in diam., with <=11 areoles across the diam, of the distal face.

  • Distribution

    Riccia brasiliensis has been recorded from SE Brazil only (Parana, Pernambuco (Porto & Bezerra, 1996), Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, São Paulo). The species is infrequent and has been collected on exposed or partly shaded soil over rocks, on river borders, at low elevations.

    São Paulo Brazil South America| Santa Catarina Brazil South America| Rio Grande do Sul Brazil South America| Paraná Brazil South America|